Vigilantism Pitch Could Have Major
Ramifications if Targeted Dems Hurt

Capitol Inside
August 11, 2021

A Republican state representative put the lives of a half-dozen Democratic colleagues in potential danger on Wednesday with a shocking social media stunt that portrayed them as dangerous criminals on most wanted posters complete with the Texas House official logo.

State Rep. Jared Patterson of Frisco posted fabricated graphics that identify five of his freshmen classmates from 2019 - State Reps. Michelle Beckley of Carrollton, John Bucy of Austin, Vikki Goodwin of Austin, Jon Rosenthal of Houston and Erin Zwiener of Driftwood - as one of 52 "most wanted" fugitives from justice on charges he made up.

Patterson also photoshopped a most wanted poster for State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio - identifying the veteran Democratic lawmaker as Ferdinand Frank Fischer III alias TMF above three pictures that show that he's Latino despite the lack of a Hispanic surname on the flyer.

"HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN?" the Patterson poster asks before providing the telephone number for the House sergeant-at-arms office for people with information on Martinez Fischer's possible whereabouts.

Patterson moved swiftly on Tuesday night to seize on GOP Speaker Dade Phelan's signing of 52 arrest warrants for Democrats who've been blocking a vote on a controversial voting restrictions bill for a month with a boycott of back-to-back special sessions that's left the lower chamber without a quorum that's required to do business.

Patterson - a married father of three who works as an officer at a retail electric brokerage firm - made bogus claims about the six colleagues who he's targeting and attempting to smear in a series of tweets.

"He may be found in search of Miller Lite, Private Jets, 4-star hotels in DC or legislative pay for being on vacation," Patterson said. "Please contact authorities if you come into contact with him."

Regardless of Patterson's intentions or motives, the posters come across like a thinly-veiled pitch for vigilante justice from militant right-wingers like the Proud Boys and other white supremacists who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Donald Trump's behalf in the riot that killed five people there including a police officer on January 6.

Patterson will be hoping that none of the six Democrats he singled out end up getting harmed as a result of the creative Twitter shenanigans. Patterson has put himself at risk of serious repercussions that could range from calls for his resignation or expulsion or exclusion from the Legislature for putting the lives of colleagues and their families in possible danger.

Patterson contended that Goodwin is one of the 52 most wanted fugitives for a slew of transgressions including "allowing dangerous criminals to go free." Patterson said Martinez Fischer is wanted in part for "abuse of the justice system."

Patterson's most wanted poster for Rosenthal accuses him of several violations including "collection of per diem pay without working." The charge is ironic in light of the fact that Rosenthal and more than 50 fellow House Democrats have been fighting for an entire month for their constituents on the road while Patterson and all of the other Republicans have accomplished nothing for the people they represent in two special sessions this summer.